Siphoning liquid dispenser



July 16, 1963 H. PAYNE SIPHONING LIQUID DISPENSER Filed March 13, 1961 IN VE N TOR HAROLD PA YNE .4 7TOPNYS United States Patent 3,097,769 SIPHONING LIQUID DISPENSER Harold Payne, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Filed Mar. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 95,222 4 Claims. or. 222-416) This invention relates to a device for dispensing liquids such as liquor in measured amounts.

\ Devices that are capable of dispensing predetermined amounts of a liquid from a bottle are well known. The common type or device will dispense only one predetermined quantity,.that is, it cannot be regulated to pour anything but the one quantity for which it has been designed. There have been attempts to design a satisfactory device for measuring more than one predetermined quantity of a liquid from a bottle that can be adjusted. These have, however, to my knowledge, all resulted in a cumbersome, costly product that has not gained popular acceptance.

I have devised a siphoning device that is capable of adjustment to measure diiferent amounts of liquid that is easy to manufacture, neat appearance and easy to use.

Generally speaking, my invention comprises a means for varying the projection of a pouring spout into the open end of a measuring cup in a device of the type under consideration. It will be clearly understood after reference to the following detailed specification read in conjunction with the drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional view of a measuring device according to the present invention, and,

FIGURE 2 is a partial perspective view of the device illustrating the inside or the bulb.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral generally refers to a device for measuring liquid poured from a bottle. It is of the general type shown in U.S. Patent 2,193,043 and comprises a hollow spherical bulb 12 having a neck 14 extending therefrom that is adapted to enter into the neck 16 of a bottle of liquid. The neck 14 comprises an open ended metal sleeve that makes a liquid tight connection with an opening in the bulb at one end. A tubular sleeve of cork is mounted over the metal sleeve in order to provide a tight fit within the neck 14 of the bottle.

The through opening of the neck 18 provides a passage for liquid from the bottle into the bulb 12, as will be described later. Numeral 20 refers to a decorative skirt for the neck 14.

A measuring cup 22 is rigidly mounted within the bulb 12 on the free end of a vent tube 24. Vent tube 214 is rigidly mounted with respect to the neck 14 and extends therethrough and therebeyond whereby to provide an air passage between the bottom of the cup 22 and the inside of the bottle. Vent tube 24 has a restricted opening 26- at its bottle end that will readily permit the passage of air in operation but will not permit the free flow of liquid therethrough.

In use, liquid travels through the neck opening 18 into the bulb '12, into the measuring cup 22 and out the spout 28, as will be fully explained later. The amount of liquid that passes through the unit depends upon the extent of the projection of the spout into the measuring cup 22 and according to this invention means are provided for varying the projection of the spout 28 into the measuring cup 22.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, these means comprise a knob 30 rotatably mounted with respect to the bulb 22 within a sleeve 36 and having a threaded through opening 32 that engages with the threaded shank of the pouring spout 28 as at 32. The pouring spout 28 is prevented from rotating about its own longitudinal axis by means of a lug 34 on a sleeve 36. Sleeve 36 is rigidly mounted on the bulb 12. Lug 34 enters into a channel 38 formed in the pouring spout 28 and slides with respect thereto as the spout moves inwardly and outwardly. The outward movement of the spout 28 is limited by a burr 28a on the threaded shank thereof and the inward movement thereof is limited by the end of its threaded section.

The knob 30 rotates within the sleeve 36 which is, as just indicated, rigidly retained in the bulb 12 by means of the clamping action oat its shoulder and a clamping flange that it carries as indicated at'40.

It will be noted that the sleeve 36 is enlarged at its outer end and that it is formed with a channel 37 that extends therearound. The knob 30 has an enlarged shoulder that is complementary to the enlargement at the end otthe sleeve 36 and is also formed with a channel 31 extending therearound. The said channels in the knob and in the sleeve align with each other when the unit is assembled and are adapted to house a broken ring 39 of spring material so that the knob 30 can be sprung into position within the sleeve 36 and will be retained therein by the spring. At the same time, the knob is free to rotate with respect to the sleeve.

It will be apparent that as the knob 30 is rotated within the sleeve that the pouring spout 28 will move inwardly or outwardly with respect to the measuring cup 22 depending upon the direction of the rotation.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The device is inserted into the neck of the bottle as illustrated in FIGURE 1. When the bottle is tipped, to direct the end of the spout downwardly into a glass, liquid will pass through the neck passage 18 into the bulb 12 and will enter into the measuring cup 22.

When the level of the liquid in the measuring cup reaches the upper end of the pouring spout 28 in the cup, the free supply of air to the inside of the bottle through the vent tube 24 is cut off.

This generates a siphoning action and the liquid starts to run out the pouring spout whereby to stop all inflow or air to the bottle. The cutting oil the supply of air to the bottle holds back the liquid in the bottle until the siphoning action is completed. The siphoning action is broken when the liquid level in the bulb has reached the bottom edge of the measuring cup 22, allowing the entrance of air to the bottle from the inside of the bulb. The vent hole 42 at the top of the bulb admits. atmospheric pressure to the bulb. The siphoning action having been interrupted, liquid will again flow from the bottle, fill the bulb to the top level of the pouring spout following which siphoning will once again commence. The cycle will continue to repeat whereby to dispose measured quantities of liquid at intervals as long as the bottle is held in a pouring position and liquid is present in the bottle.

It will be apparent that the amount of liquid discharged will depend upon the amount of liquid in the measuring cup. This in turn depends upon the amount that enters the measuring cup prior to the cutting oif of the air supply to the bottle. Thus, the further the spout is extended into the measuring cup, the greater the amount of the liquid to be discharged into the nozzle. Extension of the spout into the cup 22 is controlled by turning the knob 30 as explained above.

The embodiments of my invention other than the one illustrated will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is my invention that the claims should be limited to the embodiments of the invention shown.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A device for dispensing liquid in predetermined amounts from a bottle, said device comprising a bulb, neck means extending from said bulb for entry into the neck of said bottle, a passage for liquid through said neck means through which liquid can enter fi'om said bottle to said bulb, a measuring cup mounted Within said bulb and having its open end facing the top portion of said bulb, a vent tube connecting with the bottom of said measuring cup and extending through said neck whereby air can pass from the bottom :of said cup to the inside of said bottle in use, a pouring spout carried by said bulb the input end of which projects into said measuring cup and the output end of Which is exterior to said bulb, an opening in the back of said bulb to achieve atmospheric pressure in said bulb during pouring, means carried by said bulb for varying the projection of said pouring spout into said measuring cup whereby a predetermined amount of liquid dispensed by said device can be varied.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which said means for varying the projection of said pouring spout into said measuring cup comprises a sleeve carried by said bulb, a knob rotatably mounted in said sleeve, said knob having an internally threaded through hole, said spout being threaded on a portion of its shank for engagement in said through hole of said knob, means co-operating with said spout for preventing it from rotating with respect to said sleeve.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said means for varying the projection of said pouring spout into said measuring cup comprises a knob rotatably mounted with respect to said bulb, said knob being formed with a threaded through opening, said pouring spout being threaded for threaded engagement in said opening in said knob, means for preventing said pouring spout from rotating about its own longitudinal axis as said knob is rotated, whereby with rotation of the knob the projection of said pouring spout into or out of said measuring cup can be varied.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, in which said means for preventing said pouring spout from rotating about its own longitudinal axis comprises a lug rigid with respect to said bulb, said pouring spout being formed With a channel extending parallel to its longitudinal axis, said lug entering into said channel and being adapted for sliding engagement therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,042,928 Da Costa June 2, 1936 2,193,043 Schneider Mar. 12, 1940 2,209,947 Conrade et al Aug. 6, 1940 2,229,122 Pershing Jan. 21, 1941 2,605,931 Scannell et al Aug. 5, 1952 2,795,361 Pechy June 11, 1957 3,081,008 Hester Mar. 12, 1963 

1. A DEVICE FOR DISPENSING LIQUID IN PREDETERMINED AMOUNTS FROM A BOTTLE, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A BULB, NECK MEANS EXTENDING FROM SAID BULB FOR ENTRY INTO THE NECK OF SAID BOTTLE, A PASSAGE FOR LIQUID THROUGH SAID NECK MEANS THROUGH WHICH LIQUID CAN ENTER FROM SAID BOTTLE TO SAID BULB, A MEASURING CUP MOUNTED WITHIN SAID BULB AND HAVING ITS OPEN END FACING THE TOP PORTION OF SAID BULB, A VENT TUBE CONNECTING WITH THE BOTTOM OF SAID MEASURING CUP AND EXTENDING THROUGH SAID NECK WHEREBY AIR CAN PASS FROM THE BOTTOM OF SAID CUP TO THE INSIDE OF SAID BOTTLE IN USE, A POURING SPOUT CARRIED BY SAID BULB THE INPUT END OF WHICH PROJECTS INTO SAID MEASURING CUP AND THE OUTPUT END OF WHICH IS EXTERIOR TO SAID BULB, AN OPENING IN THE BACK OF SAID BULB TO ACHIEVE ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE IN SAID BULB DURING POURING, MEANS CARRIED BY SAID BULB FOR VARYING THE PROJECTION OF SAID POURING SPOUT INTO SAID MEASURING CUP WHEREBY A PREDETERMINED AMOUNT OF LIQUID DISPENSED BY SAID DEVICE CAN BE VARIED. 